“Under the circumstances, the best way to help them is to retire,” Andrew Cuomo told New Yorkers in a video statement from his office, also offering his “deep apologies” to women who “were” offended “by their actions.
The 63-year-old governor, who was in his third term at the helm of the 4th most populous state in the country (about 20 million inhabitants), finally let him go, six months after the first calls for his resignation because of that. case and seven days after the conviction findings of an investigation requested by New York State Attorney General Letitia James.
A decision hailed by the president of the United States, Joe Biden, who said “to respect the decision” of Andrew Cuomo, after asking for his resignation a week ago.
“It was about time Andrew Cuomo stepped down, for the good of all of New York,” added the city’s mayor, Democrat Bill de Blasio, openly hostile to the governor.
The investigations, contained in a 168-page report, concluded that Andrew Cuomo had violated federal and New York state laws and sexually harassed eleven women, most of whom were collaborators and employees, listing numerous displaced actions or attitudes.
“The most serious accusations do not rest on any credible basis in the report,” Andrew Cuomo defended himself on Tuesday, shortly after a lengthy intervention by his lawyer, who renewed the accusations of bias against Letitia James’ team.
But that does not mean that eleven women were not offended. They are. And for that I deeply apologize, “added the governor, assuring that he was not aware of the scope of his actions, while in some cases he is accused of having touched the buttocks or breasts of some women.
Andrew Cuomo said his resignation would take effect in 14 days and paid tribute to “smart and competent” Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul, who will replace him and thus become the first female governor of New York State.
The fall is in any case dizzying for Andrew Cuomo, a descendant of Italian immigrants, fed into politics by his father Mario Cuomo, who was himself Governor of the State for three terms before him (1983-1994).
However, the governor’s record had already been clouded by a case of underestimation of the number of deaths by Covid-19 in retirement homes, then by accusations of sexual harassment, which had emerged at the beginning of the year.